
‘Flew With Compassion': Air India Pays Tribute To Cabin Crew Of Ill-Fated Flight AI-171
Last Updated:
Air India said that crew members' grace, warmth, and unwavering care touched thousands of lives in the skies and on the ground.
Air India on Friday paid rich tributes to cabin crew members of the ill-fated London-bound Flight AI-171 that crashed in Ahmedabad last week, saying that their grace, warmth, and unwavering care touched thousands of lives in the skies and on the ground.
In a special message, Air India wrote, 'With hearts full of sorrow, we remember the cabin crew members we lost – beloved colleagues, cherished friends, and the soul of every journey they were a part of. Their grace, warmth, and unwavering care touched thousands of lives in the skies and on the ground. To passengers, they were calm and comforting faces. To us, they were family."
With hearts full of sorrow, we remember the cabin crew members we lost – beloved colleagues, cherished friends, and the soul of every journey they were a part of.Their grace, warmth, and unwavering care touched thousands of lives in the skies and on the ground. To passengers,…
— Air India (@airindia) June 20, 2025
The airline extended solidarity with their family at this time of immense loss.
'Senior leaders from the Tata Group and Air India continue to stand beside their families and loved ones – to honour their memory, share in their grief, and offer quiet strength in a moment that words cannot ease."
'Their kindness, spirit, and dedication will forever remain a part of who we are. We remember: Aparna Amol Mahadik, Shradha Mahadev Dhavan, Deepak Balasaheb Pathak, Irfan Samir Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Maithili Patil, Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, Saineeta Abin Chakravarti, Manisha Thapa and Roshni Rajendra Songhare. You flew with compassion. You will be remembered with love," the post added.
The body of Air India cabin crew Lamnunthem Singson reached her hometown in Manipur's Kangpokpi district on Thursday night, after being flown to Dimapur airport in Nagaland. Tragically, another cabin crew member from Manipur, Kongbrailatpam Nganthoi Sharma, who belonged to the Meitei community, also died in the same disaster. Her body is yet to arrive in the state.
Ahmedabad Plane Crash
India witnessed one of its worst aviation tragedies on Thursday after a London-bound Air India plane, carrying 242 passengers and crew, including former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani, crashed into a medical college complex shortly after taking off from the Ahmedabad airport.
241 out of 242 passengers and crew members on board the Boeing 787-8 (AI 171) and another 29 persons, including five MBBS students, on the ground were killed in the crash.
The aircraft was under the command of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal with First Officer Clive Kunder. Two senior cabin crew members have been identified as Shradha Dhavan and Aparna Mahadik. The other cabin crew members were Saineeta Chakravarti, Nganthoi Kongbrailatpam Sharma, Deepak Pathak, Maithili Patil, Irfan Shaikh, Lamnunthem Singson, Roshni Songhare Rajendra, and Manisha Thapa.
One person survived the tragedy. The lone survivor was identified as Indian-origin British national Vishwash Kumar Ramesh who was returning to the UK with his brother Ajay Kumar Rakesh, 45, who was in a different row inside the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner.
Meanwhile, 211 victims have been identified so far through DNA matching, while 189 bodies are handed over to their families. Authorities are carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims as many bodies were charred beyond recognition or severely damaged.
The aircraft had 232 passengers and 10 crew members, including 169 Indians, 53 British nationals, seven Portuguese and a Canadian, on board.
First Published:
June 20, 2025, 11:39 IST
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
36 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Air India CEO denies funeral absence claims, reaffirms Tata support
Campbell Wilson affirms management attended all AI171 crew funerals, says families are now Tata families, and outlines safety checks and scaled operations post-crash Deepak Patel New Delhi Air India Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director Campbell Wilson on Friday said senior executives of the airline were present at the funeral of every flight crew member who perished in the June 12 AI171 crash, dismissing 'social media commentary' that alleged otherwise. 'We have had senior representation at each and every one,' Wilson wrote in a message to employees, adding that the management chose to keep a low profile 'as a matter of respect', to avoid disrupting services 'so important for families and loved ones'. Wilson also said the airline is supporting the families of the deceased crew members as it would those of its own staff. 'These families are now Tata families,' he said, echoing a statement by Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran. About 500 employees from Air India and 17 other Tata Group companies are in Ahmedabad assisting families of passengers, crew and residents affected by the tragedy. 'We will continue supporting those affected long after the work in Ahmedabad is done,' Wilson said. On the ongoing investigation into the crash of flight AI171 — which killed 241 people, including 34 on the ground — Wilson said the airline is fully cooperating with the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). 'What happened? There are many theories but, as the accident is now under official investigation by the AAIB, it is not appropriate for us to comment or speculate. We are providing all information requested by the AAIB and are cooperating completely. It is vital that the facts, whatever they may be, are known so that we and the industry at large can learn from them,' he said. 'If there is any discovery during the investigation that suggests airlines or suppliers need to change something urgently, we have confidence that such information would be shared quickly. For our part, we will be transparent with what is shared with us,' he noted. The AI171 flight had 242 people — 10 cabin crew members, two pilots and 230 passengers — on board. All but one passenger died in the crash. Wilson, in his message, reassured staff that Air India's Boeing 787 fleet has passed the additional checks ordered by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 'We have also, as a matter of abundant caution, voluntarily decided to continue additional pre-flight checks... Where there is any doubt, we will not release aircraft — of any type — for service,' he noted. He explained that these checks, along with airspace restrictions over the Middle East and Pakistan, have led to temporary flight reductions. 'We will progressively restore (services) when the time is right,' he said. Air India on Thursday night announced the suspension of its Delhi–Nairobi, Amritsar–London (Gatwick), and Goa (Mopa)–London (Gatwick) services, and reduction of frequencies on many other international routes, as part of a temporary scaling down of operations on its long-haul network. The airline cited voluntary enhanced safety inspections and extended flight durations due to airspace closures in the Middle East as the reasons for the move, which will take effect from June 21 and continue at least until July 15. Despite the setback, Wilson on Friday maintained that Air India's long-term ambitions remain intact. 'Our aim in every respect — be it safety, quality, service, scale, reach, professionalism or any other dimension — remains the same, if not higher than before,' he said, adding that the airline continues to have the 'full support of both shareholders'. Tata Group and Singapore Airlines hold 74.9 per cent and 25.1 per cent shares in Air India. Wilson ended the note by urging employees to stay focused on safety and professionalism. 'Let us continue to perform our roles as professionally as we possibly can, with complete focus on safety — and, as always, with care for our customers and each other,' he wrote.
&w=3840&q=100)

Business Standard
2 hours ago
- Business Standard
Air India flight grounded in Pune after bird hit; return leg cancelled
An Air India flight from Delhi to Pune suffered a bird strike on Friday, resulting in the cancellation of its return leg to Delhi. The aircraft landed safely, and the bird hit was discovered after it touched down in Pune, the airline said in a statement. The plane has been grounded for detailed inspection, and extensive checks are being carried out by the engineering team. 'Flight AI2470, scheduled to operate from Pune to Delhi on 20 June, has been cancelled due to a bird hit which was identified after the incoming flight landed safely in Pune,' the airline stated. Air India added that it is arranging accommodation for stranded passengers and offering full refunds or complimentary rescheduling. Efforts are also underway to arrange alternate travel options to Delhi. Air India cancels eight more flights amid operational checks This incident comes on the heels of Air India announcing the cancellation of eight other flights —four international and four domestic—on Friday, citing 'enhanced maintenance and operational reasons'. While the airline did not provide detailed explanations, it said it would reduce its wide-body international flight schedule by around 15 per cent from June 20 through mid-July. The move is aimed at creating reserve capacity while aircraft undergo intensive safety inspections. Crash-led inspections impact Air India operations nationwide The cancellations follow a fatal crash of Air India flight AI171 in Ahmedabad on June 12. Since then, the airline has stepped up safety inspections across its Boeing 787 and 777 fleets. The crash killed 241 of the 242 people on board, along with at least 30 people on the ground. The sole survivor, 40-year-old Vishwaskumar Ramesh, was seated near an emergency exit. Since the accident, multiple Air India flights have been delayed or cancelled, with the airline attributing disruptions to 'technical snags' as a result of ongoing checks.


Mint
2 hours ago
- Mint
From final farewells to flight disruptions: A tough week for Air India post Ahmedabad crash
From final farewells to flight disruptions: A tough week for Air India post Ahmedabad crash 9 Photos . Updated: 20 Jun 2025, 01:27 PM IST The June 12 Ahmedabad plane crash stands as one of the most devastating tragedies in aviation history, claiming 241 lives onboard. As the nation continues to mourn, Air India has announced the rescheduling of several flights, signalling a tough week for the airline. 1/9The tragic Air India crash occurred on June 12, when a London-bound Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner took off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. Shortly after takeoff, the aircraft collided with a hostel complex belonging to BJ Medical College. 2/9In the recent Ahmedabad plane crash involving Air India flight AI-171, 241 of the 242 people on board tragically lost their lives. 3/9Family members and friends gathered at Sewri Christian Cemetery to bid a final farewell to Pilot Clive Kunder, who lost his life in the Air India plane crash shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad's Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. 4/9Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel pays tribute to former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani during a prayer meeting held in Gandhinagar. Rupani tragically lost his life in the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad. 5/9Dombivli witnessed a heartbreaking farewell as the mortal remains of air hostess Roshni Songire, who tragically perished in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash, were laid to rest. 6/9Pushkaraj Sabharwal, father of Captain Sumeet Sabharwal, the pilot of the ill-fated Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff in Ahmedabad, paid his final respects to his son with teary eyes outside their residence in Powai, Mumbai. 7/9Vishwash Kumar Ramesh, who was seated in seat 11A on the ill-fated Air India flight to London, emerged as the sole survivor of the crash. 8/9Post the crash, Air India announced the cancellation of four international and four domestic flights, citing enhanced maintenance and operational reasons.